Gas producing apparatus



l NOV-l 12, 1935. R. FALcoNER Er AL 2,021,055

GAS PRODUGING APPARATUS Filed DSG. 1, 1933 3 Sheets-$11661', 1

Rober- Flcaner guardo Call-yuan Nov. 1,2, 1935. R. FALcoNER Err AL GAS PRODUCING APPARATUS Filed Dec. l, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JMC/whom 5 Ho Iver Fa coner 3l/udo Calhynan Nov. l2, 1935.

R. FALCONER ET AL GAS PRODUCING APPARATUS` Filed Dec. 1, 1953 3 sheets-Sheet s 4 3mm; Babar? Falconer I fdmnlo Coll'7nan Y Patented. INov.l l2, 1935 2 'PATENT o1-Fics ltobert Faconer and `Eduardo. Collignon.

Application December 1, 193s, semi No. 100,623

, Mexico -This invention relates to a gas producing apparatus for making combustible gas chiefly for use with automotive vehicles, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of the class referred to having as a part thereof a generator element including a vertical grate structure set up in a. manner to overcome-sifting'with respect to the fuel and -further for a satisfactory circulation of air during the gas formingoperation.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as' hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of the class referred to including means for the generating of high and low grades of gas and for mixing the grades prior to the delivery thereof to a point of-consumption. l

A further object 'of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of the class-referredto having as a part thereof ,a generator element constructed in a manner to make it unusually desirable, capable of being conveniently repaired, expeditiously cleaned and dismantled when occasion requires. Y

, A further object;v of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an appuratus of the class referred to including as a part thereof a generator 'structure for generating gas of U'diiierent grades independently discharged therefrom, and after' discharge capable of being mixed together prior to the delivery therecf to a point of consumption.

Furtherfobjects of the invention are to provide, ina manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus for the purpose referred to, which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, readily installed with respect to an automotive vehicle, thoroughly eilicient for the purpose intended thereby, readily repaired, and comparatively inexpensive to set up. Y "I-'o the above4 ends essentially and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of such parts, and such combination of` parts which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.l

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automotive vehicle showing the adaptation therewith ofthe gas producing apparatus. v

Figure 2 is a top 'plan view of the automotive vehicle with the gas producing apparatus installed therewith.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of the'gas-generator-structin'e.

' l Figure 4 is a 'sectional plan of the gas-generator-structure showing the supply and, discharge pipes respectively extending to and leading lfromsaid structure.

Figure is a' fragmentary view in elevation of the gas-generator-structure.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary 4view in vertical section of the gas-generator-structure taken at right angles to Figure 3.

Figure 'I is a cross sectional view of the gasgenerator-structure taken at'a point through the grate element.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the grate .element.

Figure 9 `is 'a top plan view of the grate element.

Figure l0 is a transverse section of the grate element.

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view of the filter element for the low grade gas. n

Referring to the drawings, I, 2, and 3 indicate 15 generally the chassis, propulsion structure and wheels respectively of an automotive vehicle.

The structure 2 includes acarburetor 4.

Supported from chassis I is a pump 5 for forcing a combustible mixture through a conducting 20 pipe 5' to the carburetor l. leading to the pump 5 is a combustible mixture supply line 8. The apparatus, in accordance with this invention, may or-may -notvhave'the pump Ii form a part thereof, and when the pump is not used the 25 line t is adapted to be coupled directly to carburetor l. Thline l extends forwardly from the rear end portion of I.'

The apparatus includes a gas-generator structure indicated generally at I and formed of an 30 annular shell 9 of the desired diameter and height,

a lining of refractory material 9 for shell 8, a removable lid Il'for the latter, holdfast means II for removably securing the lid in closed position,

a removable closure I2 for the bottom of shell 9, 3.5

holdfast means'll for removably securing the closure in position, a retort I4 suspended within shell 9 and spaced from lining 9, a supply pipe I5 extending through the body and lining ofy shell 8 and communicating with the retort, an oir-take 40 pipe I6 for high grade gas leading from the retort i4 and extending outwardly through the body and lining of shell 9, an' off-take pipe I1 for low grade gas extending outwardly from the lid I0, a

substmitmuy` oblong tuyere element la arranged@- within the lower portion of a cylindrical generating chamber I9 provided by the lining 9, lid I0, a closure I 2 supported upon the latten and oppositely disposed air supply pipes 20, 2| extending through the lower portion of the lining and body 50 ends formed with laterally extending annular 50 anges 22, -23 respectively. Seated upon the top edge. of lining 9 and the ange 22, as well as being secured to the latter is a fiat annulus 24. Secured upon the latter is an annular member 25 of angleshaped contour in cross section. The lid I8 is pc-` sitioned upon the member 25 and in' connection with the annulus 24 and member 25 provides a pocket into which opens the pipe I1. Secured against the iiange 23 is a fiat annulus 21 against which is positioned the closure I2. The latter is formed with a circular upstanding portion 28 which extends into the annulus 21.

'I'he lioldfast means: II and I3 are of like form and each consists of a latching bar 29 having pivotally connected thereto intermediate the ends thereof a clamp 36. One end of bar 29 is formed with an extension 3| disposed at right angles thereto, and which is pivotally connected as at 32 to a bracket 33. The other end of bar 29 is mounted upon a binding screw 34 carried by one end of an angle-shaped bracket 35pivotal1y con-V nected as at 36 to a lug 31. 'I'he bracket 33 and lug 31 of the holdfast means II are fixed to the member 24 and extend upwardly therefrom. The bracket 33 and lug 31 of'the holdfast means I3 are xed to the annulus 21 and depend therefrom. The clamps 38 of the holdfast means Il and I3 bind respectively against the lid III and closure I2. The screws 3'4 of the' saidholdfast means bear against the bars 29 for maintaining the clamps 38 in position to tightly hold the lid and closure in closing position with respect to the upper and lower open ends of the casing and lining. v

The retort I4 includes a tubular member 36 disposed axially of and suspended in chamber I9.

' member 38 is positioned above and in proximity to the tuyre element I6. 'Ihe memberI 38, adjacent its lower end, is formed with an opening 44, 'I'he tube 4I, adjacent its upper end, is provided with an opening -45. Suspended within and disposed axially of retort I4 is a wire 46 which extends from above the ange 42v to a point in. proximity to the lower end of member 38. 'I'he wire 46, at its upper end, is formed with a head piece 41. The retort I4 is suspended in chamber I9 by the pipes or lines I5, I6 secured respectively in the openings 45, 44. l y

The tuyre element I8 consists of .an open bottom hollow casting formed of an inverted V-VV shaped top 48, a pair of end walls 49,56 having their'upper ends conformingdn contour to the shape of top 46 and a pair yof rectangular side walls 5|, 52 each provided with a series of closely arranged vertically disposed rectangular tapered air discharge slots 53. Each end wall is provided Arranged adjacent the structure 1 is a combined gas receiver and iilter element 61 lconsisting of a vertically disposed open bottom casing 58 having a top 59 formed with an axial opening 66. Arranged within casing 58 beweenits transverse median and open lower end is a perforated partition 6I providing in connection with the body of casing 58 an upper ltering chamber and a lower filtered gas receiving chamber 62, 63 re- .spectively. The lower end of casing 58 is sealed by a removable closure 64. 'I'he chamber 62 has arranged therein a filtering medium 65 supported by partition 6|. Integral with the top 59 and reg- Aistering with opening 66 is a tubular extension 66 which opens into agas intake lhead 61 'provided l5 with a removable plug 68 to Vpermit of access thereto. The head 66 is formed with anV intake nipple 69 to whichthegas off-take pipe or line I1 leading from the upper end of chamber I9 is attached. The casing 58 is formed with an outlet 20 nipple 10 for chamber 63 to which isfattached a. gas off-take pipe or line 1|.` The element 51 is suspended by the pipes I1, 1I and nipples 69, 16.

Arranged forwardly of the structure 1 is a combined gas collector and filter element 12 comprising a'horlzontally disposed closed casing or cylinder 13 having therein an apertured partition f 14 to form casing 13 with an upper gas collecting chamber 15 and a lower gas ltering chamber 16. The supplyline 6 opens into the top of the kchamber 15. 'I'he line or pipe 1I opens into lthe 'chamber 16 at the bottom of the latter and also extends into a body of a filtering medium 11 arranged in chamber 16.

The pipe I5 leads from a source 18 of liquid fuel. The "pipe I6 opens intoa pipe 19 which communicates with the line 6 forwardly of that end of the latter which opensv into chamber 15. The structure 1 is supported by a pair of spaced cross members 80, 8| at the rear of the chassis I. 4Q

The fuel source 18 is arranged over member 8| and may be supported therefrom. 'I'he element 112 is supported vfrom the side bars ,of the chassis" I.

solid fuel to be burned is positioned ou. element la 45 The liquid fuel from source-1a, which is to be vaporized, is slowly fed through pipe I5 by gravity and when it reaches retort I4, it is made to slide down on thesurface of wire 46. The lower end of the latter is maintained incandescent from the 5 heat of the solid fuel being burned on the grate element. The air necessary to support combus-y tion enters through'the pipes 28, 2|. 'I'he pipe I6 serves to withdraw the lighter and more volatile components of the liquid fuel from retort I4. 'Ihe 5 pipe I6 is. also maintained incandescent4 from the heat of the solid fuel `being burned and it also serves to convert the gasiiied components of the liquid fuel being withdrawn-from retort I4 into a more or less permanent gaseous condition. The gas conducted off by pipe I6 is the higher grade. 'Ihe gas of lower grade is conducted of! by pipe I1 and is lfiltered twice, after which it is mixed with the high .grade gas, due to the opening of pipe 19'into line 6. By this arrangement a richer gas mixture is provided for feeding to the motor or engine.

tendency for carbon to form in the retort Ais $0 prevented. Even though there may be a tendency fo:` small bits of carbon to form at the lower end of the retort, this is prevented by wire 46 which vibrates with the vibration of the vehicle to such .an extent to serve as a cleaner for the bottom.

of the retort in addition to serving as a conductor for the liquid fuel'.

The top of the tuyre element I8, as formed in the manner hereinbefore referred to, provides for the sliding off therefrom of the residue combustion. The element I8 is disposed at the diametrical center of the bottom of chamber I9. The air supplied for co-mbustive purposes is had through the sides of element I8 whereby the circulation of the air is not prevented.

The residue of the liquid fuel fed to the retort I4 drops toward the open lire on element I 8 through the lower open end of the retort. The liquid fuel, 'such as crude oil and the solid fuel such as charcoal or coal when combined will generate the poor grade of gas which will be conducted` oi by pipe I'I. The wire 46 in connection with the pipe I6, casing 38 and heat from-the combustible mass in element I8 will generate from the liquid fuel supplied to retort I4 a higher grade of gas than that generated from the solid fuel and the residue of the liquid fuel.

The construction of the gas-generator-structure 1 permits of it to be readily cleaned when occasion requires, due to the manner of setting up the closure I2 and the holdfast means I3 for the latter.

What We claim is:-

1. In an apparatus for producing high and low grade gases from liquid and solid fuel, a'structure providing a cylindrical gas generating chamber, including a top and an imperforate bottom, a horizontally disposed substantiallyoblong hollow tuyre element seated on said bottom at the diametric center of the latter for supporting solid fuel and including an imperforate bottom, an imperforate topr sloping in opposite directions throughout from its lengthwise median, a pair of sides formed with outlets and a pair of ends formed with oppositely extending air intakes anchored in said structure at diametrically opposite points with respect to said chamber, a vertically disposed open bottom tubular retort disposed at the axis of said chambensaid retort formed with an axially apertured to-p and having its bottom arranged in close proximity to the top of said element, a vertically disposed liquid fuel conduit anchored to and having its l'ower portion extending through the opening at the top of said retort, a liquid fuel feed pipe supported by said structure `and opening into the upper portion of said conduit, a high grade gas take-off pipe leading from said'retort and anchored in said structure, said pipes suspending the retort Within said chamber, and a lower grade take-off pipe at the upper portion of saidchamber.

`fuel, having an imperforate top sloping in opl posite directions throughout from its lengthwise vmi' median, air outlets in.its sides and air intakes at its ends extended from said chamber, an open bottom upstanding tubular retort arranged axially of said chamber, positioned in proximity to the top of said element-and formed with a top having an axial' opening, an upstanding liquid fuel conduit extending through said opening into the retort, a liquid fuel feed pipe opening into the upper portion of said conduit, a high grade gas take-off pipe leading from said retort, and allow grade take-off pipe leading from the upper end of said chamber.

3. An apparatus for producing high and low grade gases from solid and liquid fuel of the construction set forth in claim 2, the combining with 5 the retort and liquid fuel conduit a wire extending downwardly through the conduit into the retort to a point inproximityto and above the lower end of the retort, the wire being extended above the conduit, having a head at its upper end 10 and disposed axially ofthe conduit and retort.

4. In an apparatus for producing high and low grade gases from liquid and solid fuels and of that type including a gas generating chamber having arranged therein a tuyre element for sup- 15 porting solid fuel, the combination of an upstanding tubular retort for the liquid fuel adapted to be arranged axially of the gas generating chamber, said retort having an open bottom adapted to be positioned in proximity to the top of the tuyre 20 element and a top formed with an axial opening, an upstanding liquid fuel conduit anchored to said retort, extending through said opening and discharging into the upper portion of the retort, said conduit including a top having an axial open- 25 ing, and a liquid fuel line opening into the conduit in proximity to the top therein.

5,. In an apparatus forproducing high and low grade gases from liquid and solid fuels and of that type including a gas generating chamber 3() having arranged therein a tuyre element for supporting solid fuel, the combination of van upstanding tubular retort for the liquid fuel adapted to be arranged axially of the gas generating' chamber, said retort having an open bottom adapted to be positioned in proximity to the top of the tuyre element and a top formedI with an axial opening, an upstanding liquid fuel conduit anchored to said retort, extending through said opening and discharging into the upper por- 40 tion of the retort, said conduit including a top having an axial' opening, a liquid fuel line opening into the conduit in proximity to the top therein, a wire extending down through said conduit and retort to a point above and in proximity to'45 said open bottom, said Wire being spaced from-the walls of the conduit and retort, extended above the conduit and formed with a head.

6. In a 'gas apparatus for producing high and low grade gases for mixing together,a vertically 50 disposed hollow structure providing an upstanding cylindrical gas generating chamber closed at its top and bottom, a hollow oblong tuyre el'ement disposed diametrically of the bottom of said chamber and closed at its top and bottom, said element having air outlets in its sides and laterally extending air intakes at its ends anchored in said structure, said element for supporting a solid fuel', an upstanding liquid fuel retort. having an open bottom positioned in proximity to the top of said element, said retort being suspendedwithin said chamber axially thereof, a liquid fuel conduit anchored to and extending into the upper portion of said retort, a liquid fuel feed pipe opening into the upper portion of said conduit and anchored on said structure, a high grade gas take-off pipe leading from the lower portion of said retort and anchored in said structure, and

a low grade gas take-01T pipe leading from the 7o' ROBERT FALCONR. EDUARDO COLLIGNON. 

